Pigment question - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**Orla** · 05-11-2010, 02:04 PM

Milo's nose is black, his eye rims are black, he has great halo's, pigment patches on his back but on his face - the parting on his snout theres only a little dot of black pigment and the rest is pink - I've had him out in the sun but it doesn't seem to be bringing the pigment in. Is it genetics? Will it ever go black?

As far as I can see, he has all the required pigment according to the breed standard but I'd like if he had pigment there aswell.

**Cosy** · 05-11-2010, 02:16 PM

The entire face isn't usually pigmented. It's very common for the muzzle to be pink. Cosy has no black on her muzzle at all. It stops at her nose.

**Orla** · 05-11-2010, 05:43 PM

Thanks for the reply Brit!
Glad to know that other malts have pink muzzles aswell

**LJSquishy** · 05-11-2010, 06:18 PM

Brit is correct in that most Maltese don't have a black muzzle where the part is. London has pigment there about 1/4 of the way up, and Preston has pigment about 3/4 of the way up...maybe all the way (I can't remember, I'm not looking at him right now. lol).

London had pretty good pigment when she was a puppy, but it faded quite a bit as she got older. Preston has amazing pigment where almost his whole body is pigmented. He has some lemon coloring on his ears & a light patch on his body that never faded. It's more noticeable in a puppy cut but I know if I grew him out it would blend together better.

**Kitkat** · 05-12-2010, 02:12 PM

I was actually wondering about this. What about their paws? I think I read in the within the standard requirements on here that they're supposed to be black as well? Does this come with age? My pup's so far are pink. He also has a little pink spot on his almost all black nose.

**Cosy** · 05-12-2010, 03:38 PM

The standard calls for black paw pads (some judges check and some don't) but not necessary for a sweet pet. A pink spot on the nose is a lack of pigment usually from a bite or injury of some sort or just missing pigment from the genes.

**lilygirl** · 07-21-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosy

The standard calls for black paw pads (some judges check and some don't) but not necessary for a sweet pet. A pink spot on the nose is a lack of pigment usually from a bite or injury of some sort or just missing pigment from the genes.

Are the paw pads suppose to be completely black?

**CloudClan** · 07-22-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilygirl

Are the paw pads suppose to be completely black?

In a show dog, yes. But no dog is perfect, and for someone's pet? I certainly wouldn't worry about a pink paw pad.

**lilygirl** · 07-22-2010, 12:05 PM

does pigment darken with age. Lily's center of each little pad is black and the surrounds are still pink. Should we expect this to change?

05-11-2010, 02:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Orla Maltese Guru Name: Orla Dog's Name: Amber, Roxy(pomxjrts) & Milo(maltese) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,726	Pigment question Milo's nose is black, his eye rims are black, he has great halo's, pigment patches on his back but on his face - the parting on his snout theres only a little dot of black pigment and the rest is pink - I've had him out in the sun but it doesn't seem to be bringing the pigment in. Is it genetics? Will it ever go black? As far as I can see, he has all the required pigment according to the breed standard but I'd like if he had pigment there aswell. __________________ Click here to learn all about Milo & see pics!

05-11-2010, 02:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cosy Maltese Guru Name: Brit Dog's Name: Cosy from Bonnie's Angel Maltese Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: I live in Cowboy country :) Posts: 13,390	The entire face isn't usually pigmented. It's very common for the muzzle to be pink. Cosy has no black on her muzzle at all. It stops at her nose. __________________ Please buy from reputable exhibitor breeders or Rescue.

05-11-2010, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Orla Maltese Guru Name: Orla Dog's Name: Amber, Roxy(pomxjrts) & Milo(maltese) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,726	Thanks for the reply Brit! Glad to know that other malts have pink muzzles aswell __________________ Click here to learn all about Milo & see pics!

05-11-2010, 06:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
LJSquishy Maltese Guru Name: Lisa Dog's Name: London (12/20/07) & Preston (03/25/09) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 5,329	Brit is correct in that most Maltese don't have a black muzzle where the part is. London has pigment there about 1/4 of the way up, and Preston has pigment about 3/4 of the way up...maybe all the way (I can't remember, I'm not looking at him right now. lol). London had pretty good pigment when she was a puppy, but it faded quite a bit as she got older. Preston has amazing pigment where almost his whole body is pigmented. He has some lemon coloring on his ears & a light patch on his body that never faded. It's more noticeable in a puppy cut but I know if I grew him out it would blend together better. __________________

05-12-2010, 02:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kitkat Member Name: Catherine Dog's Name: Snowy AKA Snowball, Snowpuff, Trottolino Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 171	I was actually wondering about this. What about their paws? I think I read in the within the standard requirements on here that they're supposed to be black as well? Does this come with age? My pup's so far are pink. He also has a little pink spot on his almost all black nose. __________________ Hugs, Catherine Luv, luv, luv our little fluffpuff

05-12-2010, 03:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cosy Maltese Guru Name: Brit Dog's Name: Cosy from Bonnie's Angel Maltese Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: I live in Cowboy country :) Posts: 13,390	The standard calls for black paw pads (some judges check and some don't) but not necessary for a sweet pet. A pink spot on the nose is a lack of pigment usually from a bite or injury of some sort or just missing pigment from the genes. __________________ Please buy from reputable exhibitor breeders or Rescue.

07-22-2010, 12:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
lilygirl Member Name: Elisabeth Dog's Name: Princess Lily Fluffy Bum "Lily" and Finnegan "Finn" the Fluff Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MS Posts: 172	does pigment darken with age. Lily's center of each little pad is black and the surrounds are still pink. Should we expect this to change?

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